Artificial respirators



March 18, 1958 F. T. WALLIN ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATORS Filed March 9, 1954 a W 2 K 8 MM 0 1 3 m w I W F gmwg .7 1 p a ,awam ga 5% an 55 a R g i I F flaw 6 I i Z a Q a U 6 2 ARTlFlQHAL RESPRATGRS Francis '3. Wallin, Egypt, Mass.

Application March 9, 1954, Serial No. 414,98?

4 Claims. (Cl. 1283ll) This invention relates to artificial respirators of the type which automatically apply respiration to individuals. More particularly, this invention relates to respirators of the type in which an individuals body is enclosed with only his head and face exposed.

in apparatus of this type, the pressure within the enclosure of the respirator is increased and diminished to force respiration by means of contraction and expansion of the patients lungs.

Respirators heretofore available had been objected to for the reason that their structure made it difficult to insert or remove a patient and because their bulk and size restricted their maneuverability and materially increased their cost. Eflforts to make respirators of greater mobility have generally been aimed at producing a respirator that confines only the trunk portion and, in some cases, the arms as well, of the individual. While such half body respirators have greater maneuverability than the conventional large tank type respirators, they nevertheless are not as efiective since pressure leaks are unavoidable where the arms and legs of the patient protrude.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an artificial respirator having a size sufiicient to enclose all but the head of an individual and which is of construction permitting the patient to be easily placed therein or removed therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a respirator of novel construction which while being of a length sufiicient to receive the body of a patient is nevertheless more maneuverable and of less bulk than respirators of comparable length heretofore known.

Another object is to provide a respirator having a receptacle for an individual having an exterior crosssectional confi uration substantially that of a half cylinder and comprising a flat bottom bed section having an upstanding head section at one end provided with an opening for receiving the neck of a patient, a curved top section conforming substantially to a half cylinder open at one end and removably fastened to the bed section, the top section when so fastened to the bed section cooperating with the bed and head sections to provide an enclosed area of size sufiicient to receive the arms, trunk, and legs of a patient, the top section being provided with windows and ports for observing and assisting the patient, and means for applying variable air pres sure to the interior of the respirator receptacle from a conventional respirator compressor and bellows unit.

Another object is to provide a respirator having a cover section and a bed section, the bed section being convertible to a stretcher when detached from the cover section.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

232194. 3 Fatented Mar. 18, 1958 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a unitary half tank respirator constructed according to this invention;

Fig. 2 presents an enlarged view in perspective of certain features of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a front view of a portion of a respirator built according to this invention, showing an alternative manner of securing the top section to the bed section; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a respirator built according to this invention showing still another way of securing the cover section to the bed section.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a respirator body unit designated generally at 2, hereinafter referred to as a full body half-tank respirator. This half-tank respirator comprises a bed section 4 having an upstanding head section 6 at one end thereof. The outer surface it) of the upstanding head section slopes forward to a slight degree in order to increase the patients area of vision and to facilitate care of the patients head. The inner surface 8 of the upstanding head section resides in a plane disposed parallel to the plane of vertical side member 11 and at right angles to the plane of the bed section.

Head section 6 is provided with an opening in which is secured a collar 12. Collar 12 is adjustable in size to accommodate the neck and head of the patient and may be of conventional construction, as, for example, the collar disclosed by me in my U. S. Patent No. 2,478,852, issued August 9, 1949. Removably secured to head section 6 is a head rest 14 of any conventional design.

Secured to the bottom bed section is a curved cover section 16 forming substantially a half cylinder. This cover section is closed at its end 18 remote from the head section of the unit. The cover is provided with windows 2%, small ports 22, and large bed pan port 24 to facilitate care of the patient.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the bed section comprises upstanding forward and rear members 11 and side members 26, between which is a curved floor section 24.

he width of the bed section conforms substantially to the width of the cover section 16. Floor section 24 is curved as shown, being concave as viewed from above and convex when viewed from below, the radius of curvature of floor section 24 being greater than that of curved cover section 16. While not shown, the floor surface may be curved opposite from its present curvature, so that it will be concave when viewed from the bottom. However, this alternative construction is not preferred since it necessitates certain modifications in the dimensions of the side members 26 of the bed section. Floor section 24 is curved in order to avoid being buckled by variations in pressure of the air within the tank unit. It has been found that a flat floor section will buckle under the variations in pressure common to respirators even when supporting members are positioned transverse of the floor section.

Mounted above floor section 24 is a false floor comprising a perforated metal sheet or grating 39 which is adapted to support a mattress 28. This perforated sheet may be removably secured to the bed section, loosely resting, for example, on a lip or shelf provided on the inner surfaces of sides 11 and 26 of the bed section, as is well understood by persons skilled in the art. Alternatively it may be fixedly secured to the side walls of the bed section.

The purpose of the perforations in sheet 30 is to equalize the pressures above and below the sheet to prevent it from buckling. However, while a perforated sheet is preferred, the false floor may also comprise a solid sheet of metal. In the latter case pressure equalization can be achieved by employing a sheet Whose length and/or width are slightly smaller than corresponding internal dimensions of bed section 4, thereby leaving an open space between the sheet and sidewalls 1i and 26 by means ofwhich air pressure below the sheet is made equal-to air pressure above the sheet. The sheet can be supported by suitable brackets mounted on' and extending inwardly from sides 11 and 26.

bottom section, or they'may be in telescopic relation to.

the bed section, as shown by dotted line in Fig. 3. The bed section also is provided with casters 34 which support the unit and permit it to be easily rolled about from one location to another. Cover 16 is also provided with a suitable opening 35 located, for example, in its end section 18.

opening 35 as shown in Fig. 3, the hose being attached at its opposite end to a conventional respirator compressor-bellows unit (not shown). The compressor-bellows unit may be mounted ona carriage provided with castors to permit'it to be easily moved about with the respirator'unit. Alternatively the compressor unit may be positioned immediately adjacent the portion of cover 16 containing opening, '35 so that the air may pass directly from an opening in he compressor .unit to opening 35' instead of passing through a hose connection. For example, a small unit maybe mounted .on cover 16. itself with the air therefrom .passing'directly to the respirator shell. In this case suitable gasket means may be provided adjacent opening 3:? to prevent any leakage between the power plant and the respirator shell.

It is evident from the above description that the entire um't of Fig. 1 can be manually carried, rolled on its casters 3%, or placed upon a large carriage or platform such as normally supports a conventional full body respirator of cylindrical construction. The portability of the present respirator is enhanced by constructing it of a suitable:light weightsturdy metal such as aluminum.

'As shown in Figs. 1 and 2,.cover section may be hinged alongxone side as at 23, and held in place to the bed'section by snap clamps 38 disposed along its opposite side.

Alternatively, and as shown in Fig. 3, the cover section may be hinged at its foot end as at 23 and held in place by snap clamps disposed along both sides of the respirator. a a I Still another construction is shown in Fig. 4. In this embodiment the cover section is completely removable from the bed section, being held in place by snap clamps 42 disposed along'both sides of the unit. If desired, additional snap clamps may be placed atthe foot end of the bed'section'in Fig.4.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings.- It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claimi 1. An artificial respirator body unit havingan exterior configuration of substantially a half'cylinder and comprising a bed section and a cover section removably secured torsaid bed section, said bed section having at one end an upstanding head section provided with an opening of siae sufiicient to permit'passage therethrough of the In a pre ferred embodiment, a flexible hose 36 is secured at head of an individual, said bed section further comprising an exterior curved wall, an interior floor member, and means for providing equalization'of air pressures within said unit above and below said floor member, said curved cover section being closed at one end, said curved cover section abutting said upstanding head section at its open end, said curved cover section and said bed section together defining an enclosure of size sufiicient to receive the body of an individual up to the neck.

2. A respirator housing adapted to fully enclose the body of the patient up to and including the neck, said housing being in two separable parts, one of said parts comprising a bed section and the other part comprising a cover section, said bed section having as a unitary structure a rectangular frame, an upwardly extending head section provided with an opening adjustable in size to permit insertion therethrough of the head of a patient,

a wall secured to and fully closing the opening defined.

by said rectangular frame, and a flat member for supporting the patient carried by said frame and disposed above said wall at substantially the l vel of the upper edge of said frarne, saidcover section being of semicylindrical shape and closed at one end, the edge'of said cover section at its open end being in abutting engagement with the inner face of said head section, the longitudinal edges of said cover section and the upper edge of said frame having a straight longitudinal line of juncture extending from the inner face. of said head section to the opposite end of said frame. t

3. An artificial respirator body unit comprising a bed section having a rectangular frame, a wall member s..- cured to and fully occupying the interior of said frame, a flat member'for supporting the body of a. patient mounted within said frame, said fiat member-being sub-I stantially flush with the. top edge of said frame whereby. the body of a patient lying on said flat member is disposed above said frame, an upstanding. head section fixed to said frame at one end thereof, said headsection having an opening adjustable in size to permit passage therethrough of the head of a patient, a head rest secured to said head section and extending outwardly from said one end of .said bed section, and a curved cover of semi-cylindrical cross section closed at one end by an end wall, said cover being removably secured to said bed section, the edge of said cur/ed cover at its open end being in abutting relation with said upstanding head section and the. longitudinal edges of said cover. and the bottom edge of said end wall being in sealed engaging relation to the upper edge of said frame.

4. An artificial respirator body unithaving an exterior configuration of substantially a half cylinder and comprising abedsection and a cover section removably secured to said bed section, said bed section having at one end an upstanding head section provided with an opening of size suhicient to permit passage therethrough of the head of an individual, said bed section further comprising an exterior curved wall and .a perforated interior floor member spaced from said curvedwall, said curved cover section beingclosed at one end, said curved cover section abutting said upstandinghead section at its open end, said curved cover section and. said bed section 7 together defining an enclosure'of size sufi'icient to receive the body of an individual up to the neck.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Terhaar Feb. 27, 1951 

